US Def Secy James Mattis orders review of F-35 fighter jets programme and Air Force One

US Defence Secretary Gen (rtd) James Mattis has ordered a review of the F-35 fighter jets programme and of the presidential plane Air Force One, thePentagon said on Friday.

"The purpose of these reviews is to inform programmatic and budgetary decisions, recognising the critical importance of each of these acquisition programmes," Pentagon Press Spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said.

"This is a prudent step to incorporate additional information into the budget preparation process and to inform the secretary's recommendations to the president regarding critical military capabilities," he said.

Davis said this action is also consistent with thePresident's guidance to provide the strongest and most efficient military possible for American defence, and it aligns with the Defence Secretary's priority to increase military readiness while gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defence.